Peaceful Protest At The Local Abortion Mill (Clinic)

40 Days For Life......Ash Wednesday thru Easter

Go Girls!

My Son Sean's Car

The view as you drive by.

A powerful message by Teenagers.

A Prayerful Message

It is really all about life.

How a Wife Affects a Man.

I so often hear that after 50 years of marriage, and when the wife dies, something in the husband dies as well.

It is always a sad story and one can't help but feel at least some degree of the pain that must be experienced from the loss of the spouse.

A good wife, which there are so many, really does make the man.

What do I mean by this?

Well, most men of humble heart will agree, that no matter how successful a man might think he is, if he doesn't have that special person to share his life and efforts with, he is always left feeling incomplete.

A man has an innate need to feel like a provider and a protector. And although many women are capable of doing much for themselves, a good wife will allow that man to take and maintain his role.

On the flip side, a wife who nourishes her husband, also reaps the benefits of a husband who feels fulfilled; she possesses a happy and healthy husband.

The wife who clearly identifies the role of the man and the role of a woman is also just as equally happy.

Why?

Because she then directs her attention and energies on being the nourisher, the caretaker, and the heart of the home and the family.

Yes, the man might provide the food, clothing, and the shelter for the family; but the wife is the one who makes the whole family feel united, loved, and peaceful.

Liz and I have only been married for ~20 years, but as each year comes and goes I become more cognisant of the power of her role as a wife and a mother. No, she doesn't talk like, nor look, nor act like a supper-mom, a soccer-mom, she is something so much greater. She would probably be more accurately described as a "traditional" mom, or a "stay at home" mom, but I see her as God's gift to our family.

The world we live in has so many great qualities and many wonderful people, but to not acknowledge that our world and society is a complete mess would be naive. If only more people, especially women understood life like my wife, not only would more men be much happier in their lives, but the world would look much different as well.

For all you men who have a wife similar to mine, let her know today just how special she really is; I bet she has no idea......

The Life of a "Mom," How do they do it?

Can You See The Grace? Can You See The Love?

Amanda and Sean

The young adults and youth of today have a great opportunity to live lives full of joy and happiness. God has bestowed His grace upon them (us as well), grace that will allow us to transcend our weaknesses and live in His world of abundant joy and peace.

Love is a beautiful thing to experience and witness, and there is no other emotion that can better emulate God's feelings for us. 

What I am describing is "True Love," not what many youth and young adults have come to know as love, because their love could better be described as:

self-fulfilling, selfish pleasure seeking, unrestrained desire seeking, the taking of another without regard to the concept of complete surrender and giving of oneself. 

These are relationships of "Taking" not "Giving."

Love, True-Love, one that is grounded in respect, in the giving of oneself for the sake of building up the other person should be encouraged in our society today. This type of Love, a love that would never ask of another something that is improper, immoral, indecent, or disrespectful should be encouraged and nourished.

Most youth of today are in search for Love and the Truth, but are bombarded each day with lies, mis-truths, deceptions, and are left searching without finding a sense of fulfillment that lasts. The love they are looking for comes from God and Godly relationships, and can only be obtained when filled with His grace.

To live a life of such peace, joy, and sustained happiness is to live a life with another that is surrounded and immersed in God's ways, His beauty, and His Commandments, and nourished by living in a community that rejects the ways of the world and embraces the ways of His Kingdom.

There is such hope for the youth and young adults of today. They have the opportunity to live lives as fruitful as any time in history, and to possess more joy than we can imagine, if only they can see the grace that surrounds them and reach out for, and grab the grace being offered to them. 

This grace will not only sustain them in rejecting worldly ways, but will allow them to see the world and their relationships through Godly eyes. This grace that I speak of transforms us into children of God, allows us to act and to live more like the persons we were created to be, not just like what is often accepted and promoted by many around us.

We have been created in His likeness and in His image. Through baptism we have died to our broken and stained selves, and have been reborn, reborn and accepted into a kingdom of everlasting life. We are His and everything He has to offer has been given to us, all we need to do is accept it.

Culture of Life

Our good friends just had their 5th child. Here is Joseph at 1 day old. Living in the culture of life.... This is what so many are missing out of and they wonder why they feel unfulfilled.....

Father / Daughter Night Out!

I, with a little insight from my beautiful wife, decided that Fathers should periodically take their daughters out on  a date to show them and teach them how they should be treated when they become of appropriate age to date. So we planned a date night for Friday night, just Dad and daughter. I arrived home at 5pm with flowers, teaching her that any man wishing her company should never arrive empty handed. The size and the item doesn't matter, but the gesture sure does.

I changed my clothes, teaching her that making the effort to look nice on a date reflects the importance of making a good impression and also showing her that she is worth cleaning up for.

Men should always open and close doors for ladies, if a man doesn't show this respect, what does that say about him? About how he respects and feels about her?

We arrived at the restaurant and ordered a nice meal. 

I reminded her that a lady should never be expected to pay for anything on a date. She is the guest.

And desserts are important.

We had some free time before the play, so we drove to the sundial bridge for a nice walk.

It was a beautiful evening as the sun began to set and the fishermen were enjoying the peaceful river.

Dad on the bridge.

There are beautiful gardens along the river.

Mackenzie Clare

She said "Enough pictures Dad!"

We arrived at the playhouse just in time to relax for a few minutes before the crowds arrived.

Dad and Daughter

The play was a comedy.

The playhouse is a small but neat community playhouse.

And the play began....

After the play, we stopped off for a little treat.

Frozen Yogurt and you choose the toppings.

I like a little yogurt with all the candy and Chocolate.

Mackenzie had to add some healthy fruit, that is just wrong!

All in all, we had a special and wonderful evening together. We laughed, we visited, we enjoyed each others company, and I was able to show her just how special of a lady she is, and just how a man, any man should treat her.....

The Perfect Mother's Day / Anniversary

Today was not only Mother's Day, but our 18th Wedding Anniversary. So we gathered the family....

put on some nice clothes....

Hopped in the Cars, Mom and Dad in the Truck, Kids behind us in the car....

Hey.... Too Close Kids!

Are we drove to Nello's Place.

 Lets go in girls.

Nello's is a nice Italian Restaurant.

It was so much fun, having mother's day with the kids.

Reminding them that we were also celebrating our Wedding Anniversary 

that enabled Liz to be a Mother, bringing them into existence. 

 Italian appetizers.

My beautiful wife. Our first date was 20 years ago tomorrow.

Sean's first taste of steamed clams...He loved them!

Zucchini 

Shrimp Salad

The Salad was delicious.

Mackenzie loved it also.... But "NO SHRIMP!"

I really enjoyed the great conversation.

Mackenzie is quickly growing into a lady right before our eyes.

I received my dinner, Spaghetti and Meatball....

Mac and Sean both ordered the homemade Lasagna (They said it melt in their mouths).

Liz ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo.

That isn't my wine is it? Just kidding!

The waiter and owner, finding out that it was our anniversary, 

brought us a special drink that was a longtime family tradition for anniversaries, it was delicious.

No special night is complete without a family sharing a dessert.

What a great meal and special afternoon, celebrating together as a family, 

but did you really get enough to eat?

Ok, Ok, I get the point!

We thanked God for the blessings in our lives, said good bye to the kids 

(they were now off to youth group) and then we went to have a drink.

We arrived at Guadalajara where our friends, Elsa and Armando own the restaurant.

We really only wanted an after dinner drink since we were stuffed, but....

since our friends are so hospitable, they would have nothing to do with just that, and soon more food arrived.

So Liz enjoyed a blended margarita,

I had mine on the rocks,

and we enjoyed each other's company with yet again delicious food.

Then we completed the night with a nice walk on the sundial bridge. What a perfect day and evening. Life just doesn't get any better than spending time with those that you love and realizing that family and relationships are Everything!